They got him covered
Teammates stand up for embattled CB Gilmore
TAMPA — One thing was abundantly clear last night in the Patriots locker room: They have Stephon Gilmore’s back.
Gilmore was heavily criticized throughout the week for his performance in the loss to the Panthers, but he was decidedly improved during the 19-14 victory against the Buccaneers. At least three teammates were vocal toward the media during Gilmore’s interview, including one who yelled to Gilmore to “tell them to shut up.”
Largely, though, the teammates were supportive of Gilmore and happy to see him turn it around. On the heels of Gilmore’s struggles, it was important to see they were in his corner, which is the sign of a tightly knit locker room.
“You’ve got to perform,” he said. “When you don’t, people go talk. When you do (perform), they love you back again. As long as my teammates respect what I do, that’s all that matters.”
Gilmore was accountable Sunday when he said he had to improve the communication element of his game, so he was proud to showcase a better game against the Bucs.
“Everything isn’t going to always be all good and gravy,” Gilmore said. “Just got to bounce back and prove yourself every week. I think I did that this week.
“A lot better today. I was locked in on the communication. I was following (Bucs wideout Mike) Evans, so that made it a little easier. When I got my guy, I’m good.”
For the most part, the Patriots deployed Gilmore on Evans and Malcolm Butler on DeSean Jackson. However, this wasn’t a strict man-coverage assignment. They ran a lot of the same defensive calls as Sunday, so the execution was also improved.
Gilmore has said it before, but he reaffirmed last night that he believes he is at his best when he can shadow one receiver. Gilmore said he watched every route Evans had run over the past two seasons.
“I was happy for it to get on a guy and follow him everywhere he goes,” Gilmore said. “I study just him. I pretty much knew every route, so it was fun.
“I think that’s what gets the best out of me, following a guy and studying that certain guy.”
And of course, if this breeds the best Gilmore, the Patriots defense will continue to look like the group that held the Bucs to 14 points.
No trip for you
Alan Branch has received the Jabaal Sheard treatment.
Bill Belichick kept Branch in Foxboro due to performance issues, according to a source. Branch was a healthy scratch last night when the Patriots played the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football.
Branch’s playing time had been limited over the previous three weeks because his play has been too inconsistent. He played 42 snaps (61.8 percent) in the opener against the Chiefs, but just six (9.2) against the Saints, 21 (29.6) against the Texans and 12 (19.0) against the Panthers.
Branch played 60 percent of the defensive snaps last season when he was at his best during his four years with the Patriots. He led the defensive tackles in playing time and was second among all defensive linemen (Chris Long).
Entering last night, Malcom Brown (65.9 percent), Lawrence Guy (57.7) and undrafted rookie Adam Butler (45.7) have all played more than Branch (30.3).
The Patriots had high expectations for Branch this season. The 32-year-old signed a two-year, $8.45 million extension in March that also included weight-based incentives. By comparison, he was coming off a two-year, $6.6 million pact, which speaks to the way the Patriots rewarded him for exceeding the value of his previous deal.
Branch’s offseason work ethic has always been in question, though Belichick has dealt with it because Branch usually gets himself in gear in time for the season and plays his best by October. He annually skips the voluntary portion of the offseason workout program, but Belichick added the weight incentives as a way to try to keep Branch in shape. It then took Branch a couple of weeks to pass his conditioning test at the start of training camp.
By keeping Branch at home, this is reminiscent of last season when Sheard did not make the trip to San Francisco to play the 49ers. That was among a handful of midseason moves — trading Jamie Collins, benching Brown for being late to meetings, adjusting roles on defense — that Belichick utilized to seize the attention of the locker room. It ultimately worked out for a defense that finished No. 1 in the league in points allowed on its way to a Super Bowl LI victory.
Through four weeks this season, the defense was ranked 31st in points and last in yards, among other categories. Belichick demoted Butler in Week 2 and kept Gilmore on the bench in the beginning of the second half against the Panthers for missed coverage assignments.
This Branch benching is the latest message that playing time will be earned through performance.
Gronk’s costly night off
Tight end Rob Gronkowski couldn’t shake off the thigh injury that he suffered Wednesday, and he was inactive last night.
Gronkowski arrived at the game with his left leg in a heavy wrap. It hasn’t been disclosed how he suffered the injury, but the Patriots had a walkthrough Wednesday before flying to Tampa.
The absence will make it difficult for Gronkowski to earn his top tier of incentives, which are worth as much as an additional $5.75 million this season. He’ll earn a base salary of $5 million this season, but there are three tiers to add to his pay scale.
Gronkowski can earn the full $10.75 million this year if he plays in 90 percent of the Patriots’ offensive snaps, or catches 80 passes, or notches 1,200 receiving yards or is a first-team All-Pro. Otherwise, he can earn $8.75 million if he plays 80 percent of the snaps, or catches 70 balls, or records 1,000 receiving yards or 12 touchdowns. Or he can earn $6.75 million by playing 70 percent of the snaps, or racks up 60 catches, or 800 yards or 10 touchdowns.
Gronkowski has 20 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns and played 88.3 percent of the snaps through four games. He is on pace for 64 receptions, 1,017 yards and six touchdowns. Barring a spike in production over the final 11 games or an All-Pro selection, last night’s absence could cost Gronk $2 million in incentives.